Saint Joseph's Fends Off Temple, 66-62, In Opening Round Of A-10 Tournament :: Ahmad Nivins posts a double-double with 18 and 11 to lead the Hawks.

March 7, 2007

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Ahmad Nivins had 18 points and 11 rebounds and freshman Jawan Carter hit two go-ahead free throws with 1:05 to play to lead Saint Joseph's to a 66-62 victory over Temple in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament on Wednesday night.

Carter also hit a big 3-pointer to wake up the sixth-seeded Hawks (18-13) with 3:09 to go, and Pat Calathes added four free throws in the final 23 seconds in beating 11th-seeded Temple (12-18) for the third time this season.

The loss not only ended the Owls' season, it also ended their 23-year run of reaching postseason play.

Saint Joseph's will face third-seeded George Washington (20-8) in one of four second-round games at Boardwalk Hall on Thursday.

Calathes and Carter finished with 13 points apiece for Saint Joseph's, which came into the tournament with a three-game losing streak.

Mark Tyndale had 22 points for Temple. Ryan Brooks added 15 and Dustin Salisbery had 12.